How to Make a gift basket for a pasta lover

Gift baskets are great for Christmas or other holiday gift giving occasions, but they can also be a pleasant surprise for birthdays and other special moments. Choosing themed gift baskets according to what a recipient likes, makes them even more special and exciting to receive. Here's how to make a gift basket especially suited for the pasta lover in your life !

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spaghetti or other pasta
• Homemade (or specialty) pasta sauce.
• Basket or other suitable container
• Homemade (or specialty) yeast rolls, or artisan bread
• Other fillers of choice

1. 
   Cook your Sauce

   For the purpose of this article, I'll use a spaghetti gift basket as an example. You may wish to have it all homemade, or, it may be more to your liking to buy gourmet, organic, or other pre-made ingredients to fill your basket with. Either cook, or purchase, all of the items that you'll need.

2. 
   Wrap spaghetti sheaf

   Open a box of spaghetti. Wrap a napkin; either cloth or paper, around a sheaf of spaghetti and fasten first with an elastic, then with an appropriate ribbon. Using a sheaf of spaghetti versus a box has more visual appeal.

3. 
   Add a decorative top

   Make, or purchase, your pasta sauce. If you make it, find a suitable screw top container to put it in. An empty plastic mayonnaise jar works wonderfully. You can then use your computer printer and print program to make a label for the sauce. Add a decorative top such as cloth or a paper napkin over the lid, fastened with an elastic and ribbon.

4. 
   Line your container

   Bake, or purchase bread or rolls and package them in plastic wrap or zip type plastic bags to keep them fresh. Now, line your basket, or other container, that you have purchased with a cloth or paper napkin.

5. 
   Pasta gift basket !

   Arrange the items you have chosen and wrap with cellophane wrapping paper or cello bags (which are easier), and secure with an elastic and decorative ribbon.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using a colander as your "basket".
• Add a slotted spaghetti utensil or cloth napkins to the gift basket.
• Use other types of pasta, or a mixture.
• See resources below for a link to making great spaghetti sauce.

Resources

• Article: Perfect Spaghetti Sauce

[2besure]

on 12/8/2008 That is a wonderful idea with a personal touch!

[e-Rambler]

on 12/7/2008 Good idea. Thanks!

[maharishi2]

on 12/7/2008 My family loves pasta. I will use this idea for many gifts.

[mizchulita]

on 12/5/2008 That looks great! I especially like the colander idea.

[luv2blog]

on 12/4/2008 Nice! I like the pasta basket idea. I never thought of that. I've done several baskets for Valentine, Easter, Mother's and yes even Father's day and never thought of pasta. Thanks!